Key



V. V. CURTIS KEY Filed July 21, 1924 VI K625176135 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

FATENT @FFICE.

VAN VINCENT CURTIS, OF TECALLFVN, TEXAS.

KEY.

Application filed July 21,

To aZZ whom it may concern."

Be it known that l, VAN V. Gnarls, a citizen the United States, residing at McAllen, in the county of Hidalgo and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Key, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to key constructions, and aims to provide a novel form of key especially designed for operating the locks of doors or the like, the primary object of the invention being to provide a key which will be exceptionally unhandy to carry, thereby insuring against hotel patrons leaving a hotel with keys in their possession.

Another important object of the invention is to provide key having means adapted to cooperate with the knob of a. door latch to prevent the key from being pushed from position within. a key-hole to allow a pass key to be inserted in its place.

With the fore oing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement or" parts and in the details of construction hereinafter desoril ed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope or" What is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a key constructed in accordance with the invention and disclosing the guard in its inactive position, dotted lines being used to illustrate the guard in its inactive position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the key and its guard.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates the key to which the guard forming the subject matter of the presentinvention is secured.

As shown, the key is provided with an opening extended transversely therethrough at a point intermediate its end, which openings accommodate the pin (3 that serves as a bearing for the guard plate 7 which may be of any desired construction.

This guard plate is relatively wide ad- 1924. Serial No. 727,317.

jacent to its outer end so that a relatively wide knob engaging surface will be pro vided and insure against the key being moved from its position within a key hole by a person inserting a key from the opposite side of the latch.

Spaced arms 8 are formed integral with the guard plate 7 and have their ends turned upwardly and inwardly to provide bearings 9 that embrace portions of the pin 6 to allow the guard plate to pivot with respect to the key. In order that the guard plate will be normally held to its active position to a position at right angles to the shank of the key a coiled spring 10 is provided, which coiled springis shown as coiled around the pin 6, one end thereof embracing a portion of the key shank while the opposite end thereof engages one of the arms of the guard plate.

Formed integral with the guard plate is a tongue 11 that acts as a stop by its engagement with the shank of the key when the guard plate has been moved to its active position.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the guard plate will be normally held in a position at right angles with respect to the key and to this end the key will be exceptionally unhandy to carry in the pocket of a person to the end that it will be practically impossible for a person to carry the key in his pocket without knowing that the same is there.

It might be further stated that due to this construction, the key may be positioned in a key hole and when the key has been turned to move the belt of the lock to its active position, the guard plate will be moved to a position behind the door knob, making itimgossible to remove the key by any other movement except a rotary movement, from the inside of the door.

I claim 1. In a key construction, a guard plate having integral arms, the ends of said arms being formed with bearings, a pin extending through the key and mounted in the bearings, a coiled spring engaging the guard plate and engaging the key for normally urging the guard plate to its active position, and means for restricting move-- ment of the guard plate with respect to the key.

and resilient means for urging the guard plate to its active position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

VAN. VINCENT CURTIS.

" Witnesses:

J on HAILEY, L. U. BARTLIFF. 

